Published 12:00 am, Wednesday, June 20, 2012

CROMWELL - Geno Auriemma never entertained the prospects of skipping Wednesday's Pro-Am at the Travelers Championship, even if it meant answering questions from the media about the employee discrimination lawsuit UConn's Hall of Fame women's basketball coach is facing.

"This is what I do," Auriemma said before teeing off in a group including pro George McNeill, singer and New Haven native Michael Bolton and wrestling legend Booker T. "I am not going to let anything change the way I go about my job, the way I go about my life. If I was scared of anything I wouldn't be out here but I am not."

Auriemma might have been a bit scared at how his body reacted to the sizzling conditions.

While on the 13th hole Auriemma began to have some issues and he was tended to by medical personnel. Auriemma was brought to the medical tent to get treatment. He was seen joking and laughing with security and tournament officials before getting into his SUV. His son, Michael, drove Auriemma home.

Tournament officials would not comment on what Auriemma was treated for, but WWE's Booker T said he believed Auriemma was dealing with dehydration.

"He just dropped off. He sat down and that was the last of him," Booker said. "We didn't see him any more after that. The EMTs checked on him and I guess it was the best advice for him to get on out of here.

"When I saw Geno go down I was a little worried. I was dehydrated out there myself."

When Auriemma met with the media before his round, he wasn't entertaining questions pertaining to the lawsuit filed by NBA security official Kelley Hardwick. However, he did make a crack about the benefits of having Booker T serve on the security detail at some of his future events.

Hardwick alleges that Auriemma followed her to her hotel room in Russia in 2009, grabbed her arm and attempted to kiss her. Hardwick reported the incident to her superiors, but opted to remain a member of the team providing security for the U.S. women's basketball team that was being coached by Auriemma at a tournament in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Hardwick claims that Auriemma acted in a vindictive fashion toward her on that trip, and on other trips, and that Auriemma asked the NBA to remove her from security detail with the U.S. national team. In March, Hardwick was informed that she would not be a member of the team providing security for the U.S. women's team at the upcoming Olympic Games.

Auriemma did talk about the support he has received from the Connecticut public.

"(It's) just like I thought they would (support me)," Auriemma said. "It is always nice to see. I have done a lot for a lot of people in Connecticut, so I am not surprised. It's like my wife said. Those people who didn't like me like me less, and those people who like me like me the same. So it is a net loss."

When news of the lawsuit broke last week, Auriemma issued a statement saying the charges are "beyond false." He went on SNY, which recently secured the rights to televise UConn women's basketball games.

"This issue is going to be dealt with by attorneys and people who live in that world," Auriemma said in the SNY interview. "Me, my focus is making sure that everything that I do with my family, with my team at UConn, with my Olympic team and everything going forward, that that's my focus right now as opposed to anything else that might be going on.

"I think any time people are talking about you, whether it's good, whether it's bad, whether they're complimenting you or whether they're criticizing you, I think all that has an effect on you and your friends and your family. And I guess that's just the price of being in the public eye in 2012 America."

Auriemma doesn't believe the lawsuit, which Hardwick told the New York Times she filed because she was removed from consideration from providing security for the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, will impact the preparation for the upcoming Olympics.

"It better not be (a distraction) and I don't think it will be, because we've got players who have won an Olympic gold medal before and they know how to win one," Auriemma said. "We have six who have never played in the Olympics who really want to win one bad. I talked to Diana (Taurasi) yesterday and I think this team is as focused and as intent on not only winning a gold medal, but doing something that has never been done before."

Warde Manuel, UConn's director of athletics, addressed Auriemma's situation before he teed off in the Pro-Am.

"Right now Geno's working through it," Manuel said. "I'm monitoring it. He's keeping me informed and that is where it is right now."

UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey, who has worked alongside Auriemma since 1985, was asked for her opinion on Auriemma's current ordeal.

"Here is what I will say," Dailey said. "I have worked with him for 27 years and I don't think I need to see anything more than that to speak about his character or anything else. End of story."

David Borges contributed to this report. To receive breaking news first, simply text the word nhsports to 22700. *Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.